Change-speed and reversing gear.



L. WIRTZ. CHANGE SPEED AND nnvnnsme GEAR.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 6, 1907.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

4 BHBBTS-SHEET 1.

L. WIRTZ.

CHANGE SPEED AND REVEBSING GEAR.

APPLIUATIOH I'ILBD JULY 6. 1901.

9 1 8,63 1 Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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L. WIRTZ. ORANGE SPEED AND RBVEBSING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1907.

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L. WIRTZ.

OHANGE EPEBD AND RBVEBSING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1901.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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UNITED STATES LUIS WIRTZ, OF BILSTON, ENGLAND.

CHANGE-SPEED AND REVERSING GEAR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Luis Wra'rz, residing at Studloy Ilouse, Bilston, inthe county of Stafford, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Change- Speed and Reversing Gears, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in change speed and reversinggears, and has for its Ob ect the revision of a gear enabling change ofspec being effected, without stopping the mechanism, in a smooth andeasy fashion, thus obviating the shock and friction, and resulting noiseand damage experienced with gears as hitherto formed.

The invention is applicable for use in all cases where it is desired todrive a secondary rotary member at various speeds from a prime mover. Inthe present instance I shall describe it as constructed for use withmotor road vehicles where the qualities of easy, smooth and noiselesschanging of the gear are most desirable, but it is equally applicablefor driving pro ellers from a turbine where a reverse is not 0 tainablein the ordinary way and for various other uses.

The invention lies in the application of the ball for forming theshiftable connection between the driving and the driven members of thegear; the essential elements being a series of speed drums or rings, aring or series of rings of balls with a collar connected to thenecessary shifting rod for effecting the move ment for establishingconnection between one of the drums and the driven member.

In carrying the invention into effect the speed drums may be mounted onconcentric s eeves with one keyed on the shaft driven from the motor orclutch shaft through suitable means or otherwise driven from the motor.The drum on the shaft may he the high speed and the drum on the innersleeve the second speed, the next drum the third speed, then a free diskand then the reverse or the number of drums may be increased for morespeeds. The sleeves are driven at the speeds required; this may beeffected in sev eral Ways, three will be hereafter given as examples.The drums are each formed with a ring of projections extending in widthabout halfway across the periphery, the remaining portion of the surfacebein plain and smooth. The projections are pre erably rounded on theiredges for reasons to be hereafter stated.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 6, 1907.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Serial No. 382,511.

In gears a number of concentric sleeves have before been used forcarrying different speed pinions after the same manner as my S)6(3Cldrums are mounted, but this is not claimed as new in itself by me.

The driven member may consist of a hollow bearing boss with a s )rocketwheel or the like on the outer end an with a slotted cylinder or two,three, four or more guides from the inner end, concentric to the drums.The series of balls is engaged by a notched ring, each ball having ahemispherical recess or notch in which it may freely work. The notchedring can be connected by portions engaging the before mentioned guidesof the driven member to another ring on the outer side of the cylinderor guides. This latter ring forms a bearing between the notched rin anda fixed ring or collar and may have a T1110 of balls or be left plain.The driven mem er and the notched ring rotate together at the speed cual to that of the particular drum with wiich the notched ring carryingthe lockin balls is connected. The fixed ring is provi ed with means forbeing readily moved along, such as a forked lever or equivalent.

Supposing the driving balls are in connection with the drum direct onthe shaftthe top speed drum-then the notched ring will be driven at thatspeed, and with it the guides and sprocket formin the driven membersalso. To change to t 1e next speed the fixed collar is slipped along bythe operating means and carries the notched ring further along theguides, disengaging the balls from the projections of the first drum andmoving them onto the plain portion of that drum when the notched ringbecomes free. brings the balls into engagement with the projections ofthe next drum traveling at the second speed and the driven member isthen rotated at that speed. This 0 eration is the case with all thechanges whic i are effected in the smoothest and easiest possible mannerwithout the excessive jerking and grinding which takes place withordinary gears and which causes such great damage to the teeth and addsvery considerably to the cost of maintenance of the car.

The lever operating the sliding collar is actuated by rods from aconvenient control near or on the steering pillar of the car and at thepoint of control a positive rack and pawl A continuation of the movementor equivalent device, such as now used on motor vehicles, is employedfor keeping the sliding collar at a standstill over the particular s eeddrum in use. The notches on the qua rant or rack would correspond tothe. positions the collar would have to assume over the drums to bringthe notched ring and its locking balls into engagement with thepro'ections on same.

he methods of effecting the driving of the drums at the required speeds,as stated, are numerous, but as examples I may give the following: Thesleeves carrying the forward driving drums may be extended to one endand the reverse to the other, so that the sleeves would project fromeach other in regular steps at one end. On each a driving pulley wouldbe keyed and a pulley would be eyed to the shaft to which the top speeddrum is connected. Then on the motor shaft, pulleys ranging inversely inthe matter of size, would be arranged opposite the sleeve ulleys, andbelts would be arran ed on these or driving direct onto the pul eys onthe sleeves. Thus the drums would be rotated at the various speedsdetermined by the relation of the size of the respective pulleys orequivalents. The reverse pulley would be driven by a crossed belt from apulley or e uivalent on the motor shaft or clutch shaft. T e driving ofthe drums at the various speeds may be effected while employing only onedrive from the motor shaft or clutch shaft by using a series of diskswith rings of teeth and inions as will hereafter be exlained wit 1reference to the accompanying rawin s.

On the drawings, Fi ure 1. shows in section a gear constructe inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2. is a cross section taken on lineab of Fig. 1. Fig. 3. is a cross section on line cd of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa cross section at ef, of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. shows in lan the inventionwith a different drive. Fig. 5. is a plan of one of the speed drums.Fig. 6. shows one form of the driven member detached. Fig. 7. is an endview of same, and Fig. 8. is a view of the notched ring carrying thedriving balls. Fig. 9. is a sieetion showing a further modification ofthe rive.

At Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of these drawings, which are by way of exampleonly, for the invention as previously stated may be carried out in anumber of ways, 1 is the top speed drum keyed onto the shaft 2, 3 is thesecond speed drum keyed onto the sleeve 4-5 is the low speed drum on thesleeve 6, 7 is a free disk and 8the reversing drum ositively connectedto the boss 9. 10 is t e driven member consisting of a boss 11 carryinga sprocket 12 or equivalent, a bearing 13 and a t rust bearing 14, atthe end. From the boss 11 the uiding c linder 15 projects, 16 is thenote ed ring or taking the driving balls 17; this ring has connections18 adapted for sliding in the guiding cylinder to an outer ring 19. Theouter ring 19 forms a bearing between the rotary members (the recessedring 18 the guides 15) and the sliding collar 20. The collar 20 is fixedas regards rotary movement but is engaged by any known shifting device21 such as a rod or fork for effecting its movement along the guidingcylinder 15.

At Fig. 1, the balls 1? controlled by the notched ring 16 are in contactwith the projections on the top speed drum 1, so that they would bedriving at that speed, the ring 16 and through it the driven member 10carrying the sprocket 12 from which the drive would be taken by a chainor in any other way. To bring the second speed drum into gear the rod 21would be 0 erated to slide the collar 20 and with it the ring 16 andballs 17; the latter coming out of the projections on the first drumonto the plain surface of the latter where they would be free and theslip help to reduce the s eed and facilitate their entry into the ring 0projections on the drum 3. When in the projections of the drum 3 theywould of course be driven and transmit the drive at the speed of thatdrum. A suitable aluminium or other case forming an oil or grease box isprovidedfor inclosing the gear as roughly indicated by 22.

The drive is effected by a belt, chain or the like from the motor orclutch shaft direct onto shaft 2, of the gear; keyed onto the shaft is apinion 23 gearing with a small pinion 25 carried on a stud on an arm 26keyed to the first sleeve 4. The shaft 2 drives the drum 1 directlywhile the pinion 23 on the shaft drives the small pinion 25 on the arm26, which pinion is in mesh with a fixed annulus 24 as seen at Figs. 1and Thus the drum 3 on the sleeve 4 is driven by the pinion 23 throughthe arm 26 keyed to the sleeve. A pinion 27 on. this sleeve 4 gears witha second. small pinion 28 carried on an arm 29 from the second sleeve 6.This small pinion 29 is in mesh with a fixed annulus 30, so that thesecond sleeve is driven from the first in the same manner as that isdriven from the shaft. For the reverse a pinion 31 keyed on the sleeve 6meshes with a pinion 32 carried by a fixed bracket and this piniondrives an annulus 33 secured to the reverse drum 8 as seen at Figs. 1and 3.

At Fig. 4., the gear is shown driven by bolts directly from the motor orclutch shaft.

the speeds required. Although belts are shown of course a chain or toothdrive may be used if desired.

At Fig. 4. is roughly represented a means for shifting the notched ringfor varying the speed and a quadrant 41 and pawl 42 are represented inconnection with the same. Some such positive locking must be used toinsure the notched ring carrying the locking balls being retainedagainst axial movement during driving.

In the arrangement shown at Fig. 9, a secondary shaft 43 is employed.The driving shaft 44 in this case carries a free pinion 45 for rotatingthe secondary shaft 43. The driving shaft can be clutched to the union45 by the clutch 46 or it can be clutched to the shaft 47 carrying thetop speed drum 48. The clutch arrangement represented by 46 com rises anordinary spool 46, with enga ing ogs on its inner contour adapted toslide over the collars 46 46 46; of the collars 46 is securely connectedto shaft 47, 46 to shaft 44. In position seen at Fig. 9 the clutchconnects 46 to 46, but a movement to the right of the spool 46 causes itto connect 46 to 46 With the top speed in gear as shown the drive isdirect onto the drum 48 and through the balls to the driven member 49.When the balls are moved by the shifting device 50 to engage the secondspeed drum 51 the clutch 46 is at the same time operated to clutch theshaft 44 to the pinion 45 and so drive the secondary shaft 43. Throughthe pinion 52 on this shaft the pinion 53 on the drum sleeve and thedrum5l are driven and the drum transmits motion through the balls to thedriven member 49. With the clutch in this latter position the third drum54 is rotated by the plnions 55 and 56, While the reverse 57 is operatedthrou h pinions 58, 59 and 60, so that when the ba ls are moved toengage either of the drums 54 or 57 the drive is transmitted throughthem. In this arrangement a suitable device is provided on the rod 61actuating the shifting member so that the clutch lever 62 moves with itwhen the member is changed from the top speed drum to the second, and isat rest during the other changes.

In the device shown a pin 63 is arranged on the rod 61 and travels in aslot 64 and collars 65, 66, with projections 67, 68 are arranged nearthe lever and adapted to hit projections on the lever when turned toregister with them. At the position shown the top speed drum is in gearand the clutch lever is pulled over to the left, the pin 63 on the rodeing in the extremity of the slot. The projections 67, 68, are in touchwith the lever projections and as the rod is moved to shift the speed tothe second drum 51, the lever is pushed over, but the rod is rotated bythe pin following the slot and the rojections gradually clear the leverand t e straight part of the slot allows movement of the rod withoutshifting the lever.

As will be at once seen with the gear as shown at Fig. 9 when the topspeed drum is in gear all the other drums are at rest, but if the clutchbe operated to bring any of the other gears in mesh the top speed drumwill then he idle. By nnlltiplying the clutch arrangement the gear couldbe arranged so that as each gear was in mesh, all the others would be atrest, but the gear shown is a simple and convenient form for practicaluse.

The speed drums are formed with projeetions occupying about half thewidth of the periphery as seen at Fig. 5, and the cavities )etween theseprojections are U shape in cross section, the bottom of the U being on alevel and forming one smooth surface with the plain surface of the drum.When the drums are assembled they off er, except for their projections,an unbroken cylindrical contour on which the balls may be moved as theypass from one ring of teeth to the next, with perfect smoothness. Theedges of the teeth or projections are rounded to facilitate the entryand exit of the locking balls. The plain portions are wide enough tofreely accommodate the locking balls when moved out of the projections,the width being slight] more than equal to the diameter of the ba ls forthis purpose, but this plain portion is not absolutely necessary to theworking of the ear such as shown in Fig. 9, for example, alt ioughadding to the smoothness of its Working. The notched ring for effectingthe movement of the locking balls should preferably be of a widthsufiicient to bridge over the smooth, plain surfaces of the drums duringthe passage of the balls from one ring of teeth to the next, but this isnot necessary as the balls could take the bearing during movement.

Although I have described the invention with one ring or series oflocking balls only, it will be apparent that two or more may be employedIf desired for higher powers; the notches of the ring would in this casebe of sufficient length to accommodate the balls and the projections onthe drums would be correspondingly long. It is essential for lockingthat in every case the balls arranged in one transverse plane shall belodged in separate notches or recesses, but when two or more rings areused the balls in planes parallel to the shaft ma be lodged each set 111one notch or each bal in a separate notch as found convenient. Theprojections may be made more or less strong to suit requirements, but Ifind that with my gear in use the shock is obviated and the gearing maybe constructed lighter and more compact than was before possible, at thesame time having equal strength.

In some cases where a gear is used some distance from the member onwhich the variable drive is required, that is, where there is a lonchain or belt drive between the gear and the shaft or other member to bedriven, the driven member of the gear may be considerably simplified,the ring carrying the locking balls being simply toothed on the outerperiphery and provided with a shifting mechanism. In this case the ringwould form the driven member and its movement out of line would notaffect the drive on a long length. If desired the ring of balls may bearranged about the central shaft and be carried by a slidable member toengage speed rings connected. with sleeves as before. The teeth orprojections of the speed rings would project inwardly and the ballswould be moved to engage them as in the case of the drums.

In some cases either the driven member or the driving member may befluted and the balls engage the flutes so as to be always morepositively connected to one member. A convenient way of operating theballs in this case would be to arrange them in a sleeve with holesslightly less than the balls, so that the latter are held in place inthe flutes but project partly through said holes; this sleeve may bereadily moved along the cylinder or shaft to engage the speed'drums orspeed rings as the case would be.

The free disk which I have described and shown must not be regarded asan essential element as although it greatly facilitates the easy changefrom the low to the reverse, the change may be effected without it.

What I claim then is 1. A change speed gear having a plurality ofnotched drums, to be driven at different speeds, a slidable rotarymember, a lurality of locking balls retained in said slidab e rotarymember and movable along into engagement with either of the notcheddrums to give the speed required.

2. In a change speed and reversing gear, a plurality of grooved rings, aslidable member, a set of locking balls carried thereby, and a drivenmember, said balls being adapted for movement along the said drivenmember to engage either of the rings.

3. In a change speed and reversing gear, a series of driven speed drums,a driven memher, a shiftable member, and a ring of balls carried in saidshiftable member and adapted to engage any one of said drums, fortransmitting motion therefrom to said driven member of the gear.

4. A change speed and reversing gear comprising a series of speed drums,a free drum and a reverse driven drum, a sliding ring, a series oflocking and driving balls carried by said ring, a boss having a sprocketwheel and provided with guides, said sliding ring sliding along androtating with said guides, a non-rotating bearin ring and a shiftingdevice supported there y for effecting the movement of said ring,carrying the balls, along the said guides for bringing the balls intoengagement with one or other of the said drums.

5. In a change speed and reversing gear, a plurality of drums withprojections thereon extending about half way across the peripherythereof, the remaining portions of the periphery being plain and levelwith the bottom of the notches between said projections, a plurality oflocking balls and means for bringing said balls into engagement with theprojections of one or the other of said drums.

6. In change speed and reversing gear a series of drums, a slottedcylinder extending concentrically over said drums, a driven member,connected with said cylinder, and a coupling ring slidable along theslots of said cylinder.

7. In a change speed and reversing gear, a main shaft and a secondaryshaft, gears for connecting said shafts, sleeves around the main shaftand provided with gear wheels, gear wheels on the secondar shaft meshingwith and driving those on t e sleeves, a series of speed drums onedirectly secured to each sleeve and one directly secured to the mainshaft, a coupling ring and means for connecting the same with any of thespeed drums, a driving shaft, a driven member, a clutch and operatinmeans therefor connected With said coup ing ring, the said clutchconnecting one of tie gears with one of the shafts, for driving thedrums on the sleeves, and disconnecting said main shaft from saidsecondary shaft when the drum directly on the main shaft is coupled withthe driven member, to prevent the driving of the drums on the sleeves.

8. In a change s cod and reversing gear, a divided main sha t having adrum part and a driving art, a secondary shaft, sleeves around saiilmain shaft and adapted to be driven by said secondary shaft, a series ofspeed drums, one of said drums directly keyed on said main shaft and theother drums keyed on said sleeves, a coupling ring, a driven member, aclutch, a loose pinion, and a control lever, operating means connectedwith said coupling ring and said clutch, and controlled by said controllever, whereby shifting the lever from its position corresponding tocoupling of the drum keyed directly on said main shaft to said memberunclutches the drum part of said divided shaft from the driving partthereof, and couples the loose pinion to said driving part to connectwith the secondary shaft to effect the driving of the drums on thesleeves.

9. In a chan e speed and reversing gear, a divided mains iaft, and asecondary shaft, sleeves around said main shaft and adapted to be drivenby said secondary shaft, a series of speed drums, one of said drumsdirectly keyed on said main shaft and the other drums keyed on saidsleeves, a coupling ring, axial movement of said rod to shift said forka driven member, a clutch, a loose pinion, and to effect cou ling anduncoupling of the a control lever, operating means controlled parts ofsaid ivided main shaft to drive one 15 by said lever connected with thecoupling part of said main shaft or the said secondary ring and saidclutch, and comprising a shiftshaft respectively.

ing rod, a pin therein, a plate iaving a guid- In testimony whereof, Ihave signed my ing slot therein, said guiding slot and pin efname tothis specification in the presence of feoting the rotation of said roddurlng its two subscribing Witnesses.

axial movement, fprojections on said rod and LUIS WIR'IZ.

a pivoted clutch ork gripping the said clutch sald projections being adated on rotation of said rod to engage said 0 utch fork, and onWitnesses:

J. BEAUMONT PERoIVAL, STANLEY BANNER.

